Performance Task (Summary in G.R.A.S.P.S. form):(T)
Goal: To have a visual interpretation of a quote from Walden published on Philosophy Now's website. Role: A modern-day transcendentalist Audience: The editors Philosophy Now magazine Situation:Philosophy Now is hosting a competition in which they will select a handful of mixed-media products that creatively and effectively convey at least one of Thoreau's messages found in Walden as a way to show how transcendentalism still has a place in today's society. The winning products will be featured on the magazine's website in its inaugural section titled "The Revival of Thoreau's Walden: Why We Need Transcendentalism Today". Product/Presentation: A mixed-media rendition of Walden that transforms Thoreau's rhetoric and at least one of his major themes into a visual format, a written description/explanation of the product, and a presentation that introduces and discusses the product. Standards (six categories for each rubric) Presentation Rubric: preparedness (20%), thoughtfulness (35%), enthusiasm (15%), posture (10%), eye contact (10%), time-limit (10%) Product Rubric: originality (20%), content (30%), attractiveness (10%), permissions (10%), written description/explanation (20%), mechanics (10%)
Other Evidence (quizzes, test, prompts, observations, dialogues, work sample, etc.):
Other Evidence(OE)
• Blogs: students will each create a blog in which they write daily throughout the unit.
• Podcasts: students will discuss the effectiveness of the first person and rhetoric in Walden.
• Google Docs: as a class, students will compile a cited list of the rhetorical devices that Thoreau uses.
• PowerPoint presentations: students will chose a series of rhetorical devices to focus on and present them to the class alone or in groups.
• Interactive timelines: students will create a timeline of Thoreau's experience at Walden along with a timeline of their own lives.
• iMovies: students will document at least one connection between one of Thoreau's major themes and an aspect of their own lives.
Student Self-Assessment and Reflection
Self-Assessment(SA)
• Pre- Asessment: survey
• Checking for Understanding: one question one comment, observation, word sort, gallery walk, conferences, journal/blog entries, quick writes
• Timely Feedback: self, peers, teachers
Assessment Task Blue Print
What understandings/goals will be assessed through this task?(G)
Understandings
Goal (MLR or CCSS or NGSS)
• Thoreau uses a wide range of rhetorical devices to make the purpose of Walden more effective
Thoreau had distinct purposes for writing Walden
•CCSS English Reading Standards for Informational Texts
Craft and Structure
Grades 11-12
Standard 6
CCSS English Reading Standards for Informational Texts, Craft and Structure Grades 11-12, Standard 7
What criteria are implied in the standard(s) understanding(s) regardless of the task specifics? What qualities must student work demonstrate to signify that standards were met?
Big Ideas
Big Ideas
• themes of Walden
• rhetorical devices used in Walden
Through what authentic performance task will students demonstrate understandings?
Task Description:(T)
The online edition of Philosophy Now magazine is looking to create a new section that focuses on the presence of transcendentalism (which has often been dubbed "America's first philosophy") in today’s society. To inaugurate this new section of their magazine, they are creating a section titled "The Revival of Thoreau's Walden: Why We Need Transcendentalism Today". Within this section, the magazine is hoping to present a series of visual renditions of different themes and/or quotes found within Walden. Thus, they will be hosting a contest to see who can best depict transcendentalism and Thoreau's ideals through the modern-day lens of mixed-media rhetoric. You will be taking on the role of a modern-day transcendentalist and, using a passage from Walden to guide you, you will create a product that you feel best captures at least one of Thoreau’s major themes that still holds true (or that you feel should hold true) in today's society. While creating your product, consider Thoreau’s use of rhetoric: how might his ideas be expressed through a visual medium? You will present your final product to a panel of Philosophy Now editors, explaining the choices you made in designing your product and why it best suits the criteria for publication.
What student products/performances will provide evidence of desired understandings?
Type II Product
Type of Presentation
• a mixed-media rendition of Walden that transforms Thoreau's rhetoric and at least one of his major themes into a visual format, accompanied by a written description/explanation of the product
• oral presentation
By what criteria will student products/performances be evaluated?
Stage 2 - Determine Acceptable Evidence.
Role: A modern-day transcendentalist
Audience: The editors Philosophy Now magazine
Situation: Philosophy Now is hosting a competition in which they will select a handful of mixed-media products that creatively and effectively convey at least one of Thoreau's messages found in Walden as a way to show how transcendentalism still has a place in today's society. The winning products will be featured on the magazine's website in its inaugural section titled "The Revival of Thoreau's Walden: Why We Need Transcendentalism Today".
Product/Presentation: A mixed-media rendition of Walden that transforms Thoreau's rhetoric and at least one of his major themes into a visual format, a written description/explanation of the product, and a presentation that introduces and discusses the product.
Standards (six categories for each rubric)
Presentation Rubric: preparedness (20%), thoughtfulness (35%), enthusiasm (15%), posture (10%), eye contact (10%), time-limit (10%)
Product Rubric: originality (20%), content (30%), attractiveness (10%), permissions (10%), written description/explanation (20%), mechanics (10%)
• Podcasts: students will discuss the effectiveness of the first person and rhetoric in Walden.
• Google Docs: as a class, students will compile a cited list of the rhetorical devices that Thoreau uses.
• PowerPoint presentations: students will chose a series of rhetorical devices to focus on and present them to the class alone or in groups.
• Interactive timelines: students will create a timeline of Thoreau's experience at Walden along with a timeline of their own lives.
• iMovies: students will document at least one connection between one of Thoreau's major themes and an aspect of their own lives.
• Checking for Understanding: one question one comment, observation, word sort, gallery walk, conferences, journal/blog entries, quick writes
• Timely Feedback: self, peers, teachers
Assessment Task Blue Print
What understandings/goals will be assessed through this task? (G)
Craft and Structure
Grades 11-12
Standard 6
What criteria are implied in the standard(s) understanding(s) regardless of the task specifics? What qualities must student work demonstrate to signify that standards were met?
Through what authentic performance task will students demonstrate understandings?
What student products/performances will provide evidence of desired understandings?
By what criteria will student products/performances be evaluated?
• content- 30%
• attractiveness- 10%
• permissions- 10%
• written description/explanation- 20%
• mechanics- 10%
• thoughtfulness- 35%
• enthusiasm- 15%
• speaks clearly- 10%
• posture & eye contact- 10%
• time-limit- 10%